"The Dukes" - Part 2

Day 2 (June 20, 2015)

We were scheduled to meet at CET office at 6.45pm to go bowling thereafter but I hadn't had lunch and I was so hungry so I left early to grab some Burger King before heading to the office. Then it started to rain when I was heading out. The rain kept pouring harder and harder the closer I get to the office. It was a struggle to stay dry in that weather even with a raincoat on. It's basically an art, especially if you want to keep your shoes dry, assuming that you don't have a car, which is almost always the case in Vietnam. That sentence was confusing, wasn't it?

"The Dukes" - Part 1

I always tell myself that no matter who you are and what you do in life, whether it's a lecture in class, or just an observation you're making, there's always something you can learn from. The past week I was participating in DukeEngage Vietnamese Buddy Program with 10 students from Duke University in North Carolina and, needless to say, I have learned a lot. Whether it's because of my motto or because they basically ooze an intellectual glow as they walk, I feel like I'm absorbing knowledge from them. You know when a duke appears, there will be music playing as he proceeds? It's just like that. Hence I call them "The Dukes".

Karmin - Pulses (Album Review)

Pulses - Karmin

Karmin rose to fame with the viral video of them performing Look At Me Now showcasing the impressive rapping skill of Amy Heidemann and the background (everything) by Nick Noonan. The couple is engaged but their wedding has been postponed several times due to their work with music, especially since their big break being signed by a major label - Epic Records. Their first single under Epic was Crash Your Party. Although didn't receive much commercial success, it was critically acclaimed and helped Karmin gain recognition beyond their YouTube subscribing fan base. They released an EP entitled "Hello" as a hello to their fans in 2012 featuring the breakthrough hit Brokenhearted, which landed at #16 on US Billboard Hot 100 and became my personal summer anthem that year.
They started recording their debut album "Pulses" the same year and actually went through tough time arguing with Epic to defend their musical choice and direction before finally being able to release it on March 25, 2014 - half a year later than the initial tentative release date.

My (Mostly) Bangkok Adventure (Day 1)

I hopped off the plane at DMK with a dream and my cardigan.

I depart from Ho Chi Minh city to Bangkok on July 28, 2013 with a couple of friends as a reward for being admitted to HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities (I'm taking Korean Studies there). Before the trip, I had read tons and tons of articles about Thai tourism and it led me to a not-very-high expectation although Bangkok is a gigantic tourists magnet. However, my real experience turned out to be very different from what I could hope for.

One Direction Attacked iTunes Chart With Best Song Ever

One Direction has just released their latest single Best Song Ever, taken from their motion picture One Direction: This Is Us. The song is taking over the world by storm and is currently the number one song on iTunes Worldwide.

Matt Cardle & Melanie C - Loving You

I. Am. In. Love.

This song is so darn addictive with an amazingly epic chorus and an impressive signature falsetto performance from Matt Cardle. And let's not forget the appearance of the ex-Spice Girls member - Mel C serving us some slaying vocals. Their voices are so perfectly harmonized I got confused the first time I listened to this song, who is who really? You must check it out.

Matt Cardle is the winner of The X Factor series 7.
(And he's 30. Is it a coincidence I've been interested in 30-year-old singers' music or I'm actually older than my age?)

Cardle has been quite quiet, especially after leaving Syco Music and Columbia Records (as part of his X Factor prize) to join So What Recordings. He released his sophomore album The Fire under SWR last year and did not achieve much commercial success like his debut one. But I hope with this amazing new song, he's going really far in this new era.

Luke Kennedy: A Time For Us (Album Review)

Luke Kennedy was a contestant on The Voice Australia season 2. In the Blinds Auditions round, he sang Un giorno per noi (A Time For Us) and had all four coaches turn their chairs for him. He then chose to be a part of Ricky Martin's team and came second in the competition. I personally don't know him until his lead single came out.

His album "A Time For Us" - named after his Blind Audition performance - was recently released.

He's 30. And this album represents it. At least according to my stereotype.
(He doesn't look 30 especially with a smile like that, I was so surprised to find that out)